The present invention provides that coatings applied to natural, synthetic and recombinant expressed polymer filaments can be used to modify the properties of monofilament and multifilament self-retaining sutures. In an embodiment of the invention, the coating enables the suture to be easily inserted into tissue, whereupon the extended interaction of the coating and the tissue increase the ability of the tissue retainers to hold the suture in the tissue. In an embodiment of the present invention, the coated polymers have a melting point in the range from between approximately 40° C. to approximately 180° C. while retaining tensile strength. In an embodiment of the invention, the increased strength is due in part to the tissue specific reaction generated by the suture coating.
